Audit Finds U.S. Hid Cost of Iraq Projects

Posted on Jul 30, 2006

More inspiring news about our government: A State Dept. agency used an accounting shell game to hide cost overruns on Iraq projects and withheld info on scheduling delays from Congress.

N.Y. Times:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 29 ? The State Department agency in charge of $1.4 billion in reconstruction money in Iraq used an accounting shell game to hide ballooning cost overruns on its projects there and knowingly withheld information on schedule delays from Congress, a federal audit released late Friday has found.

The agency hid construction overruns by listing them as overhead or administrative costs, according to the audit, written by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, an independent office that reports to Congress, the Pentagon and the State Department.

Called the United States Agency for International Development, or A.I.D., the agency administers foreign aid projects around the world. It has been working in Iraq on reconstruction since shortly after the 2003 invasion.